Sheet feeding machine



g- L 1939. H. T. BACMHOUSE 2,167,823

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F116 Aug. 20, 1937 Aug. 1, 1939. H. T. BACKHOUSE 2,167,823

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MMuMyfiW/wE/mflWm WM ATTO NEYfi Patented Aug. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 20, 1937, Serial No. 160,149 In'Great Britain August 25, 1936 12 Claims. (01. ail-s9) This invention consists in improvements in or relating to sheet feeding machines of the type in which the sheets, after being separated from a pile, are carried by a conveyor mechanism towards a printing press or other machine in lapped formation, that is in the form of an uninterrupted stream of sheets advancing along the conveyor or feed board.

It is customary to provide on automatic sheet feeding machines devices known as sidelays for the purpose of effecting lateral registration of the sheets after their forward movement has been arrested at the front lays of the printing press or other machine. A sidelay usually comprises a moving sidelay puller and an adjustable stationary gauge, and in operation the sidelay puller grips the stationary sheet and draws it into abutment against the gauge, after which the puller releases the sheet.

39 According to the present invention the lateral registration of each sheet in turn'is effected while the sheet is moving towards the press or other machine by means of a sidelay puller which is arranged while it is registering the sheet to move with the sheet in the direction towards the press or other machine.

The traveling sidelay puller, which may employ a sucker or suckers, is arranged to engage the moving sheets singly, taking always the leading sheet, and to move towards the press with each sheet thus engaged while at the same time moving sidewise with the sheet to draw it against a gauge in order to obtain the desired lateral registration.

The gauge may be arranged to move towards the press with the sidelay puller, and the sidelay puller and gauge may be interconnected. The engagement of each sheet by the sidelay puller may be effected in one or more places on the sheet,

for example by means of a sucker or suckers which may be carried by the gauge or otherwise.

, {Means are also provided for the return of the sidelay puller and the gauge to their initial positions after side registration of each sheet has been effected.

The invention is particularly suited for use with sheet feeding machines of the kind described in my application for patent Serial No. 738,500,

filed August 4, 1934.

One of the objects of the invention accordingly is the provision of means for side registering the foremost sheet of a stream of sheets without interruption of the forward travel of the sheet.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel and simple mechanisms for accomplishing the side registration of moving sheets.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I'proceed with the description of those embodiments of the invention which, for the 5 purposes of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention; and

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are similar views of different 10 forms or modifications of the invention.

Referring first to that form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, fragments of sheets A, B and C are shown traveling down a feed board 9 in lapped formation. Sheet A has not yet reached 15 the point at which it is to be taken into the printing press, and is in the process of being side registered while its forward movement continues. it being understood that its forward movement at this time is at a speed which is only a frac- 20 tion of the speed of the press, as is always the case in stream feeding.

In this figure, I0 is a bar mounted along one side of the feed board or table, provided at its ends with pairs of lips II in which are journaled 25 two short shafts I2. A knurled wheel I3 is pinned to each of these shafts between the lips II in order that the shafts may be turned readily for adjustment purposes. The inner ends of shafts l2 are threaded and engage threaded holes pro- 30 vided in bosses l4 formed in the horizontal leg of an angle bar i5. Hence, by adjustment of the shafts l2 the bar l5 may be caused to take different positions parallel with the direction of travel of the sheets, as well as to bring about ac- 35 curate alignment of the bar. In some cases it may be desirable to move the bar I0 transversely of the feed board in order to accommodate sheets of different widths, where the degree of adjustment possible by operation of the shafts I2 is not 40 suflicient for the purpose.

The vertical leg of the angle bar l5 constitutes a guide and support for a reciprocating side gauge [6, the latter being provided with pins I! which extend through slots IS in the vertical leg of the 4,5 angle -bar and have coil springs l9 which bear at one end against the heads of the pins and at the other against washers 20 that bridge the sides of the slots l8. The gauge I6 is thus held in close sliding contact with the bar 15. A pair of transverse cylindrical supports 2| extend outwardly from the top of side gauge l6, being formed preferably as integral parts of the gauge. These supports provide slidable mountings for two rods 22 from the inner ends of which depend suckers 55 23 having sucker heads or mouths 24 supported just above the path of the sheets and spaced normally a short distance away from the side gauge l8. Coil springs 25 tend to hold the suckers in their innermost positions. The outer ends of the rods 22 carry rollers 28 which are adapted to run upon diagonal cam surfaces 21 carried by the vertical leg of the angle bar l5.

Side gauge I8 is joined at its rear end by a pivotal or other connection with a rod 28 which is reciprocated regularly in the operation of the feeding machine, that is it has one complete reciprocation for each sheet fed. The suckers are connected by flexible tubes 29 with a means for inducing vacuum, some suitable valve mechanism being interposed in the line and operated in properly timed relation to cause the suckers to grip and release the sheet at appropriate points in the cycle. When the sheet A has proceeded to a proper point in its travel, and is no longer under the control of the hold-down rollers 38 or the like, suction is turned on automatically to cause sucker heads 24, 24 to grip the sheet. Then the sidegauge I8 starts forward at the same rate of travel as the sheet. The suckers are thereby carried forward, and simultaneously'the rollers 28, running on the cam surfaces 21 pullthe suckers outwardly against the action of springs 25, so that for a short time the sheet is given a diagonally forward and outward movement which pulls it up against the side gauge l8. The suckers are spaced apart rather widely, that is one is preferably located near the forward edge of the sheet and the other near the trailing edge thereof, and as a consequence the sheet is accurately aligned throughout its length. In this form of the invention, it will be noted, the side gauge is traveling forward with the sheet at the time the latter is being registered. After the sheet A has been thus registered, it is taken into the press and the rod 28 and gauge l8 start to move rearwardly again, and the spring 25 acts to return the suckers to their inner position in order that the mechanism shall be in readiness to act upon. the next" sheet B when that sheet has reached the position illustrated by sheet A in the drawing. The transverse movement of the suckers may also be effected by pneumatic means, such as that described in my copending application Serial No. 113,425, filed November 20, 1936.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a side gauge 3| which may remain fixed in the operation of the machine, that is to say it may not travel back and forth parallel to the direction of movement-of the sheets. Provision for such movement however could be made if desired. It is to be understood also that provision for adjustment of the side gauge transversely of the feed table may be made. A bracket 32 is fixed to the frame of the machine at one side thereof, .and provides a mounting for one end of a' transverse rod 33, as well as a journal for a'rocking and reciprocating shaft 34. The rod 33 and shaft 34 are parallel to each other, andare arranged in. a plane above and parallel to the plane of the feed board,

At the opposite side of the. machine beyond the feed table the rod33 and shaft 34 are similarly mounted in another bracket 35. On the near extremity of shaft 34, as viewed in Fig. 2, there aromas machine. Shaft 34 extends through and beyond bracket 35 and is provided with a head 48 on its extremity. A coil spring 4| surrounds the shaft between the head 48 and the bracket 35 and serves to hold the roller 31 against the cam 38. In this manner the shaft 34 is oscillated through a predetermined arc and at the same time, because of the cam '31 and the spring 4|, is slid back and forth lengthwise in its bearings.-

A slotted yoke 42 is mounted upon the rod 33 and shaft 34 so as to be movable both lengthwise and transversely upon those members. The parts are so arranged that the yoke 42 stands above the feed table parallel thereto. In its ends it carries rod extensions 43 and 44 upon which are adjustably mounted suckers 45 connected by flexible tubes "with a source of controlled suction, as in the first. described form of the invention.

On the yoke 42 there is a laterally extending roller 41 which runs upon a cam 48 having a hub 49 adjustably secured'to the shaft 34 by a set screw 48. The oscillations of shaft 34 therefore serve to reciprocate yoke 42, rods 43 and 44 and suckers 45, and the parts are so designed as to provide a forward movement of the suckers at the same rate of speed as the advancing stream of sheets. The lateral movement of the suckers for drawing them toward the side gauge in order to effect side registration of the sheet is effected by a second yoke 58'which straddles yoke 42 and slides back and forth upon the rod 33. One end of yoke 50 engages hub 49 and the other end engages yoke 42 opposite hub 49. Hence, as hub 49 moves transversely with shaft 34 yoke 58 moves with it The and imparts a like movement to yoke 42. travel of each of the suckers 45 may be made to follow a-str aight diagonal line or a curved line, depending upon the contour of cam 38. I may provide cut-outs 5| in the side gauge 3| in order to clear the sucker heads when they approach the side gauge, and in'some cases to permit the sucker heads to, move through or partly through the side gauge, the sheet remaining behind and against the side gauge. This action accomplishes the straightening of any sheets which may come down the feed board slightly out of alignment.

This form of the invention functions in the same way as the first described form, except that the side gauge may remain stationary if desired, and

except for the fact that the suckers 45 may be adjusted lengthwise of the rods and 44 so as to best suit the requirements of sheets of different lengths.

In the modification of Fig. 3, 52 is a bar arranged parallel to the direction of travel of the sheets,

which may be mounted upon the frame of the machine in the desired location near the forward end of the feed board. It has upwardly and inwardlyextending end arms 53 terminating. in guide slots 54. A bar 55"rests upon the arms 53 and is provided with rollers 58 whichrun'in the guide slots and cause a-lateral movement of the bar when the latter is reciprocated by means of a link 51 pivotally connected with the rear end thereof. The link 51 reciprocates once for each sheet feeding movement in the same manner as in the cases ofthe rods 28 and 39 of the previously described forms of' the invention.

Two suckers 58 depend from the bar 55 and are connected by flexible tubes '59 with a controlled ,source of suction. These suckers extend downwardly through'slots 88 in a combined smoother plate and side gauge 8| whichextends above the edge ofthe path of the sheets. The gauging surface is a vertical flange 82 at one side of the plate GI and extending below the flat horizontal tion of that plate.

It will be apparent that as the rod 51 and bar 55 move forward and backward in the operation of the machine the suckers 58 travel in a curved path forwardly and to the side, thereby moving the sheet in their grip up against the side gauge. Of course, as soon as the sheet is properly gauged, the vacuum in suckers 58 is automatically cut offin a manner which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and the sheet is subsequently taken nto the press.

In the modification of Fig. 4, I employ two or more disks 63 which turn upon hollow posts 64 mounted in the machine on the outer side of the side gauge 65. These disks have an annular depending rim portion 66 which runs through cutouts 61 in the side gauge and extends over the path of the sheets. Flexible tubes 68 connect the hollow posts 64 with a source of suction, as in the other forms of the invention. The two disks 63 are turned simultaneously through the same angle by suitable mechanism which in the case illustrated takes the form of ratchet wheels 69 attached to the disks and pawls which are mounted to swing around the posts 64 by means of a reciprocating link II pivotally or otherwise connected with a reciprocating rod 12 which moves back and forth once for each sheet fed by the machine. In the illustrated case, the ratchet and pawl mechanism is designed to advance the disks one-fourth of a revolution for each reciprocation of the rod 12. There are four radial passages 13 in each disk connected with four sucker heads 14 in the annular rim 66 of the disk. An elongated opening 15 in post 64 is so positioned as to connect the passage I3 with the hollow interior of post 64 when the corresponding sucker head reaches a position in transverse alignment with the post, and it maintains the connection until the sucker head has moved forward and outwardly far enough to draw the sheet up against the side gauge 65, when the suction is broken. The disks 63 themselves in this instance therefore control the application of suction.

The sucker heads H are preferably circular, and are preferably rotatable in the disks so that when the sheet has been gripped there is no relative movement between the sucker head and the sheet. This however is not essential.

It will be apparent that instead of employing disks, as herein illustrated, a series of radial tubular arms could be used. Also there may be a single radial passage and a single sucker head, with provision for swinging the sucker head back and forth through a given angle. Again, the disks or the like may be rotated continuously in the same direction, using a single radial passage and a complete revolution of the disk for each sheet fed, or a. plurality of radial passages and a correspondingly shorter arcuate movement for each sheet fed. In the latter case, a continuously moving shaft will be substituted for the reciprocating rod and link 12 and H. The disks 63, in addition to their function of carrying the suckers, act as sheet smoothers, somewhat ,as does the plate 6| in the Fig. 3 modification. Because of the angularity of the movement of the sucker heads the sheet gripped thereby will be slowed down somewhat as it comes into engagement with the side gauge.

In any or all of the forms of the invention above described provision may be made (for example in the manner described in my application Serial No. 113,425 above mentioned) for the vacuum to be released towards the end of the pulling movement of the suckers, in order to lessen the tendency of the sheet to be buckled against the gauge bar. The small openings illustrated in the sucker heads 14 of Fig. 4 are for this purpose. This also has the advantage of facilitating slightly greater sidewise movement of the sheet at one end than at the other, where this may be necessary for sheet straightening purposes.

Further, provision may be made for any residual vacuum remaining in the device on completion of its operative stroke to be completely dispelled. This may be effected, for example, by the use of an automatic release valve opening to atmosphere.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a stream feeder, a feed board, a sidelay comprising a side gauge mounted on the feed board and a plurality of overhead sheet gripping suckers spaced longitudinally moving forwardly and outwardly to draw the leading sheet of the stream sidewise against the side gauge during the forward travel of the sheet.

2. In a stream feeder, a feed board, a sidelay comprising a side gauge mounted on the feed board and a plurality of sheet gripping suckers overlying the path of movement of the sheets and spaced lengthwise of said path, and means for moving the side gauge forward and the suckers forward and sidewise to draw the leading sheet of the stream against the moving side gauge during the forward travel of the sheet.

3. In a stream feeder, a sidelay comprising a side gauge and a plurality of sheet gripping suckers overlying the path of movement of the sheets and spaced apart lengthwise of said path, and means for moving said suckers forwardly and outwardly to draw the leading sheet of the stream against the side gauge during the forward travel of the sheet, said side gauge having cutouts adapted to permit the suckers to pass beyond the gauging surface of the side gauge.

4. In a stream feeder, a plurality of sheet gripping suckers overlying the path of movement of the sheets spaced apart lengthwise of said path, a reciprocating element extending lengthwise of said path upon which said suckers are supported, and means actuated by the reciprocations of said reciprocating element for moving the suckers outward as well as forward to effect a side registering movement of the sheet gripped by the suckers during the forward travel of the sheet.

5. In a stream feeder, a sidelay comprising a side gauge and a plurality of sheet gripping suckers overlying the path of movement of the sheets spaced lengthwise of said path, means for moving said gauge forward at a speed approximately the same as that of the sheets, and means actuated by the forward movement of the gauge for drawing the suckers toward the gauge to side register a sheet gripped by the suckers.

6. In a stream feeder, a side gauge, a rock shaft extending transversely above the path of the stream of sheets, a yoke embracing said rock shaft and carrying a sucker, means for oscillating said rock shaft in timed relation with the movement of the sheets on the feeder, and means actuated by the oscillations of said rock shaft for simultaneously advancing the sucker and directing it outward to draw the sheet against the side auge during the forward travel of the sheet.

7. In a sheet feeder, a side gauge, and means for side registering a sheet against the side gauge during the forward travel of the sheet comprising a sheet gripping sucker mounted to swing in a circular are above the sheet in a plane parallel to the sheet, and means for inducing suction in the sucker at its innermost position above the path of the sheets, the suction being broken after the sucker has moved forward and outward to slow down the sheet and register it against the side gauge.

8. In a sheet feeder, a side gauge, and means for side registering a sheet against the side gauge during the forward travel of the sheet comprising a sheet gripping sucker mounted to swing in a circular are about a center outside of the side gauge and'above the sheet in a plane parallel to the sheet, and means for inducing suction in the sucker at its innermost position above the path of the sheets, the suction being broken after the sucker has moved forward and outward to slow down the sheet and register it against the side gauge.

9. In a sheet feeder, a side gauge, and means for side registering a sheet againstthe side gauge during the forward travel of the sheet comprising a sheet gripping sucker mounted to swing in a circular are about a center outside of the side gauge and above the sheet in a plane parallel to the sheet, and means for inducing suction in the sucker at its innermost position above the path of the sheets, the suction being broken after the sucker has moved forward and outward to slow down the sheet and register it against the side gauge. said side gauge having a cut-out therein menus to permit said sucker to pass the gausins surface of the side gauge.

10. In a stream feeder in which lapped sheets are given a continuous forward movement from one point to another toward a machine which is to-operate upon them, a side gauge adjacent the path of movement of the sheets, and a plurality of sheet gripping suckers spaced apart lengthwise of said path arranged to grip the leading sheet of the stream and to move forwardly and outwardly to draw the same sidewise against the side gauge during forward travel of the sheet.

11. Mechanism as claimed in claim 10 in which one of said sheet gripping suckers grips the leading sheet at a point where said sheet is lapped by the next succeeding sheet.

12. In a stream feeder in which lapped sheets are given continuous forward movement from one point to another toward a machine which is to operate upon them and in which each sheet partly overlies the sheet following, a feed board over which the sheets are so moved, a side gauge adjacent the path of movement of the sheets, and a plurality of sheet gripping suckers overlying the path of movement of the sheets and spaced apart lengthwise of said path, said suckers being adapted to grip the leading sheet of the stream while the latter is moving and to move forwardly 

